Preston North End sign Keith Keane from Luton Town

7 June 201214,035 viewsNo CommentWritten by Ronan

League One side Preston North End have completed the signing of former Republic of Ireland under-21 defender Keith Keane from Luton Town.

The 25-year-old versatile defender has been with the Hatters all his career, since joining as a teenager in 1995. In ten senior seasons at the club, he played 247 league games in four different divisions. In 2004-05 he lifted the League One trophy with Luton, and helped them to the Championship. The Hatters have not fared as well recently, and found themselves relegated to the Blue Square Bet Premier Division in 2010.

A former Ireland under-19 and under-21 international, Keane has played all across the back four and midfield for Luton, and brings his versatility to his new club. Chairman Peter Risdale praised his manager Graham Westley for signing the London-born player: “Keith has played over 250 career games and is still only 25-years old. He is known as a midfielder but he made his name as a right back and played there when Luton Town won promotion from League One to the Championship. He is a player who is very experienced and we are delighted to sign him. Graham has been tracking him for a while and he is a player he has always believed can do a job not just in League One but hopefully when we are promoted.”

Keane was unveiled to the fans today, and was interviewed for the club’s official website. “The manager expressed his interest in me when he was at Stevenage and the move has tailed on from there,” Keane told PNE.Com “At the end of last season, the manager told me he was interested in bringing me to Preston and I was more than willing to come.

“This is a massive Club and you can’t ask for anymore when you are aware the manager has been monitoring your career. It can only be a good thing because he recognises your qualities, and I am delighted to be joining Preston.

“I have played a number of games so far during my career and I will try and bring as much experience to the squad as I possibly can.

“During my time at Luton I featured mainly at right back or in the centre of midfield but I will play wherever the manager wants me to. Every player wants to play in the professional leagues and it is was important for me to be back playing in the Football League.

“League One is a good standard of football and I will be doing my best to impress and prove that I am able to play at this level again. The aim is to then go on and hopefully play at higher level and help Preston North End win promotion back to the Championship.”